Leicester appealing for lost time over Silva’s transfer
The frantic nature of the final day of the transfer window has been costly for Leicester City after Fifa rejected the club’s application to register Portugal’s Adrien Silva after they missed the deadline by just 14 seconds.
Leicester City thought they had snared the midfielder from Sporting Lisbon for close to $40m near the close of the summer transfer window on August 31.
However, Silva’s registration was not completed in time with football’s governing body holding firm that it would not make any exceptions in this instance.
Leicester are believed to be in the process of trying to appeal against the decision.
The Football Association has been in touch with Fifa and will look to help Leicester with its case.
‘‘We are working with Adrien and Sporting Clube de Portugal to overcome some issues relating to the player’s registration and exploring all options to find a resolution,’’ a club spokesman said.
France-born Silva, 28, is a product of Sporting’s academy and has had loan spells at Maccabi Haifa and Academica.
Leicester were desperate to finalise the deal after they sold midfielder Danny Drinkwater to Chelsea for $64m in the final moments of the transfer window.
❏ One possible lock in the Liverpool back four is unlikely to be available for several months after it was revealed Nathaniel Clyne is suffering from a relatively serious back injury.
The 26-year-old played just 45 minutes in pre-season during a 4-0 win at Tranmere Rovers on 12 July and is not in Liverpool’s Champions League squad.
‘‘The reality is we are looking at some time before he is back,’’ Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said. ‘‘I am told it will be longer than just a couple of weeks, so we will continue to monitor and assess. ’’If we are fortunate enough to still be in Uefa competition in the new year he could be added to the squad then.’’
❏ Swansea striker Wilfried Bony will be the focus of a High Court case after the club were accused of paying more than $14m in ‘‘secret commissions’’.
Bony claims that two football agents who used to represent him received under-the-table cash between 2013-2015.
The agents, Gilbert Kacou and Czech Dalibor Lacina, are now being sued alongside the club.
❏ Former Liverpool and Newcastle defender Jose Enrique has retired from football at just 31 after dealing with a persistent knee injury for some years.
The Spaniard made 127 appearances for Newcastle before a $13m move to Liverpool in August 2011.
He told Sky Sports: ‘‘Sometimes I got dizzy in training, I was on so much medication’’ after is knee used to swell up massively after every training run or game.
❏ Manchester City appear to be keen to punish Arsenal for not selling striker Alexis Sanchez by offering $72m less for him when the next transfer window opens.
The Arsenal striker saw a late $108m offer on deadline day to City collapse when Arsenal failed to bring in a replacement in time, despite offering $166m for Monaco’s Thomas Lemar.
The Chile forward has one year left on his contract with City set to offer just $42m him in January.
Weekend fixtures (UK time): Saturday, Manchester City v Liverpool, Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth, Brighton and Hove Albion v West Bromwich Albion, Everton v Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City v Chelsea, Southampton v Watford, Stoke City v Manchester United; Sunday, Burnley v Crystal Palace, Swansea City v Newcastle United.